Abande

Connection and stacking

Material

• A square board providing 49 spaces,
• or a snub-square board providing 49 spaces,
• or a hexagonal board providing 37 spaces
• 2 × 18 pieces, in white and black color for each of the two players

Abande can be played on various boards. There are three standard boards: square, snub-square and hexagonal.

Pieces

Each player is provided with 18 stackable pieces in white or black respectively, which are placed in front of each player. These are called the “pieces in hand”.

Pieces are placed on the intersections of the lines.

In the following only hexagonal boards are shown, the same rules apply to the square, the snub-square or any other board.

Please note: single pieces are considered stacks of height “one”.

Objective

Players attempt to get the highest score. Each stack on the board under a player’s control is added to the final score.

Play

Initially the board is empty.

Players take turns. Black starts the game by entering a piece on any space of the board. This is called the “initiative” in contrast to a regular move, which can be:

• enter a new piece on the board, or
• move a stack already on the board on top of an adjacent opponent stack, or
• pass the turn, which is possible only if you have no more pieces in hand.

The game ends if both players pass their turn in sequence.

The “band”

At any stage of play all stacks on the board must be connected. There must be one single “band”. Please note that this band can include patterns like forks or networks.

Enter a new piece

As long as you have pieces in your hand and you do not wish to or cannot move a stack on the board, you must enter a new piece on an empty space connected to the band.

New pieces must be placed adjacent to other pieces (or stacks) on the board.

Move a stack

Instead of entering a new piece you may also move a stack under your control on the board. The topmost piece determines the owner of a stack.

Stacks move one space into any direction, they cannot be split.

Stacks capture by moving on top of an opponent stack. They cannot move to an empty space or on top of a friendly stack.

Stacks cannot grow larger than 3 pieces high.

Moving is allowed only after Black has entered the second piece, which means Black cannot directly capture White’s reply to the initiative.

Possible captures for White: e2-d3, e2-e3, e4-d4, e4-e3, f2-e3. Possible captures for Black in the same position: b3-c4, d3-e2, e3-e2, e3-e4, e3-f2 (note: the complete stack on e3 is moved). The pieces on c4 and d4 cannot be moved because that would split the band.

Pass a turn

Players who have no more pieces in hand, may pass their turn. However, they may move again in a subsequent turn.

End

The game is over when both players pass their turn in succession.

“Sleeping” pieces

To facilitate scoring, players may remove all stacks not connected to an opponent stack.

Please note:

• Pieces within mixed stacks are not "connected" in this sense.
• The band may be split when sleeping pieces are removed.

Score

Each stack not connected to a stack controlled by the opponent is worth zero points.

All other stacks count towards a player’s score:

• Add 1 point for every single piece of your color.
• Add 2 points for every double stack you control.
• Add 3 points for every triple stack you control.

Final score: White 13 - Black 15.

The player with the higher score wins the game. Games can end in a draw.